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The Spokane DMA covers eastern Washington and north Idaho, linking regional health care, aerospace, agribusiness, and higher education. Newsrooms track wildfire resiliency, housing affordability, hydropower, and rural broadband while covering Fairchild Air Force Base, the Kalispel and Spokane Tribes, and the I-90 tech corridor. Audiences blend broadcast, streaming, and radio to follow Pacific Northwest weather, outdoor recreation, and cross-state policy developments.
KREM 2 (CBS) and KSKN (CW) are owned by Tegna, while KXLY 4 (ABC) belongs to Morgan Murphy Media. KHQ 6 (NBC) and SWX Sportsline are operated by Cowles Company alongside the Spokesman-Review newspaper. Sinclair Broadcast Group runs FOX 28 (KHQ-DT2) and KAYU FOX 28 serving northern counties. KSPS PBS and Idaho Public Television provide public media, and digital outlets like Range Media, Spokane Journal of Business, and Inlander collaborate on investigative and community reporting.
The Federal Communications Commission coordinates spectrum assignments across Washington and Idaho to maintain Emergency Alert System coverage for wildfires, blizzards, and flooding. Washington Emergency Management Division and Idaho Office of Emergency Management host annual Cascadia Rising and wildfire drills with broadcasters, integrating IPAWS alerts, tribal communications, and bilingual outreach for migrant workforces.
KREM, KHQ, and KXLY stream newscasts and weather updates via Roku, Amazon Fire, and station apps, producing newsletters and podcasts on regional politics, Gonzaga basketball, and housing. KSPS PBS offers student journalism, STEM content, and the Inland Journal podcast, while Range Media and the Spokesman-Review expand data-driven storytelling and live journalism events.
Broadband expansion programs from the Washington State Broadband Office, LinkUp Idaho, and regional utilities deploy fiber and fixed wireless across Spokane, Stevens, and Kootenai counties. Smart city projects in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene provide open data on air quality, traffic, and river flows, incorporated into newsroom dashboards and alerts.
Providence and MultiCare health professionals, Gonzaga and EWU students, and tech workers consume streaming newscasts and podcasts covering policy, innovation, and startups. News outlets host live forums on housing, climate, and workforce training, amplified through LinkedIn, YouTube, and newsletters.
Connected TV adoption is high among urban residents, combining Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and station apps for local coverage. Daily newsletters from Range Media, the Spokesman-Review, and Inlander guide civic engagement and cultural participation.
Rural households in Stevens, Lincoln, and Pend Oreille counties rely on OTA signals, radio, and NOAA alerts during winter storms and wildfire smoke. Agriculture producers and tribal communities receive bilingual updates through public radio, Facebook Live, and text alert systems arranged by counties and tribes.
Spokane’s outdoor recreation culture drives weekend viewership for hiking, skiing, fishing, and cycling content across broadcast, YouTube, and the Out There Outdoors network. High school sports, WSU Cougars, Gonzaga Bulldogs, and Spokane Chiefs hockey attract cross-platform audiences via linear broadcasts and streaming services.
| Indicator | Latest Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| DMA population | approximately 740,000 residents (2023) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Television households | about 302,000 TV homes, rank 117 (2024-2025) | Nielsen DMA Rankings |
| Median household income | roughly $69,800 across Spokane County, WA and Kootenai County, ID (2022) | U.S. Census Bureau ACS |
| Broadband availability | 95% of households with access to 100 Mbps service | Washington State Broadband Office / LinkUp Idaho |
| Healthcare employment share | over 19% of regional workforce | Greater Spokane Inc. |
| Aerospace & manufacturing employment | nearly 16,000 jobs | Washington Department of Commerce |
| Visitor spending | about $1.4 billion in tourism revenue (2023) | Visit Spokane |
The 2024 Washington State University Murrow Poll indicates 63% of Inland Northwest respondents trust local media for wildfire, water, and civic news versus 31% for national outlets. Newsrooms publish transparency reports detailing data sources, corrections, and community advisory boards, and they host listening sessions with rural, tribal, and immigrant communities to address coverage gaps.
Collaborative projects—InvestigateWest, ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network, and the Range Media/Spokesman-Review partnership—produce investigative pieces on housing, healthcare, and environmental issues, reinforcing credibility through shared datasets and open-source methodologies.
Audiences follow Gonzaga basketball, WSU Cougars, Mariners, Seahawks, and Spokane Chiefs via linear broadcasts, ESPN+, Bally Sports, and streaming apps. Outdoor adventure, craft beverage, and local arts coverage draws strong engagement on weekend newscasts and social platforms.
Podcast and newsletter usage is robust, with Spokane Public Radio’s Inland Journal, Range Media’s daily brief, and Inlander newsletters leading consumption. Younger audiences engage with TikTok and Instagram storytellers covering coffee culture, murals, and music, while faith communities and civic groups livestream services and council meetings to reach wider audiences.
